The Trustee Senate will look at the challenges scheme Trustees face and ask how they can best address some of these challenges. It will also explore what the future is likely to hold for Trustees and assess the common themes emerging.

This webinar will look at the issue of mental health wellbeing in the workplace – asking the steps employers can take to improve the mental health of their employees; and looking at how things such as early intervention strategies can help.

The US equity investment environment has gradually shifted from active management to passive investing in both institutional and retail channels in recent years.

The US Large Cap Core Strategy provides exposure to quality US companies with sustainable competitive advantages and the ability to generate significant cash flow. We look for the best companies, at the right valuation, and hold for the long-term.

This new paper examines the increased focus on Responsible Investment in all its various forms, and reflects the growing awareness from investors globally that non-financial risks may have a meaningful impact on long-term financial performance.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to Responsible Investment, including the main approaches and the investor landscape.

CPP hurt by strong Canadian dollar

CANADA - The Canada Pension Plan's (CPP) first quarter return rate tumbled by 11.2% compared to the last fiscal year, according to new figures.

Overall, the CPP announced its assets had grown by C$3.9bn (US$3.7bn) at the end of the first quarter, mainly due to high levels of contribution inflows not needed to pay current pension benefits.

A statement from the fund stated: “While the CPP Fund benefited from strong Canadian equity markets this quarter, the strength of the Canadian dollar against most major currencies largely offset gains in foreign equities in the portfolio.”

The fund’s portfolio remained mostly unchanged from the year before which produced a 12.9% or $13.1bn return.

CPP have maintained its investment are long term concerns not to be overly analysed on a quarter by quarter basis.

In terms of its asset mix, as at 30 June 2007, 64.7% of the fund was held in equities and 24.7% was allocated to bonds and inflation-sensitive assets represented 9.8%. The remaining 0.8% was held in money market securities.

Over the four years ending 30 June 2007, the CPP earned $40.5bn (US$38.4bn) in investment income creating a rolling annualised return rate of 12.2%.

The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) is consulting on changes to the actuarial assumptions it uses in valuations in a bid to better reflect the bulk annuity market, with schemes set to move into surplus on aggregate.